Four nations must 'move together' on devolution, says Burnham after Glasgow summit

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said the UK's four nations must move together to devolve more power to regions and cities, after holding talks with the Scottish and Welsh first ministers and representatives from Northern Ireland in Glasgow. Speaking after the first National Economic Council for the nations, held in Glasgow, Burnham highlighted plans for devolution at regional level and said he wanted to ensure no nation was left behind. "It's really important we all move at the same pace together, and I won't allow anything to delay that," he said. "Growth can't wait. People need to see improvements in employment and in living standards in all parts of the UK." The meeting was attended by Scotland's First Minister John Swinney, leader of the SNP, and Wales's First Minister Rhun ap Iowerth, leader of Plaid Cymru. Northern Ireland was represented by officials amid the political fallout from the Drumcree parade dispute. Ministers and representatives at the summit discussed handing regions more powers to control employment support and funding for reindustrialisation. Burnham said it was about creating structures at regional level, and that it was a matter for Scotland and Wales to decide what that looks like in both countries. He urged the devolved governments to work jointly with the UK government on a model of deeper devolution, which in the context of reindustrialisation could include more devolution of innovation funding. The leaders also agreed during the meeting that too many young people are out of work across the nations. Burnham said the UK government would look at arrangements for further devolution of employment support for young people in both Scotland and Wales. Devolution has been at the heart of Burnham's policy agenda since he entered Downing Street this summer. He argues that rewiring the state and handing more control to regional mayors and authorities across England will boost economic growth. His approach to devolution at national level has been less clearly defined, though he has said he will listen to calls from the devolved administrations for further powers while advocating that they share more responsibilities with local authorities. Swinney said that while he and Burnham disagree on independence, the meeting was a welcome start on further devolution. He pledged to work constructively and collaboratively with the prime minister to devolve more powers from Westminster to Scotland, provided those proposals drive economic growth felt in higher wages, better jobs, more opportunities for business and support with the cost of living. Both Swinney and ap Iowerth have called for a wider conversation about independence, but Burnham has ruled out referendums. A Downing Street spokesperson said the UK government would review issues raised by the first minister, but that this would not include a second independence referendum in Scotland. Ap Iowerth said he was pleased to meet the prime minister, where he pressed the need for Wales and the Welsh government to have the necessary tools to better serve communities. He reiterated that further devolution within Wales is a matter for the Senedd and only the Senedd. He welcomed what he called the prime minister's step forward on the Welsh government's fiscal and borrowing powers, and gave his full support to pushing for a stronger relationship with the EU. Downing Street described the discussions with the Welsh first minister as positive, and said he had agreed to start a process to explore how each government could contribute to regional empowerment, reindustrialisation and achieving good growth in every postcode.